Electric switch.



No. 683,213. Patented Sept. 24, I90l. K. W. MANSFIELD &. W. R. THOMPSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Applicatibn mm .m a, 1900.) (No Nodal.) 2 Shah-Shoot 2.

- WITNESSES: mvwons ATTORNEY No. 683,2l3; Patontad Sept. 24, l90l.

K. W. MANSFIELD G. W. R. THOMPSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Applicstion mod July 6, 1900.\ (In Iodol.) 2 Shoots-Shoot I.

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KING IV. MANSFIELD AND WVILLIAM R. THOMPSON, OF SOUTH NORVVALK, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,213, dated September 24, 1901. Application filed July 6, 1900. Serial No. 22,731. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, KING W. MANSFIELD- and WILLIAM R. THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at South Norwalk, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to an electric switch apparatus; and it consists of the combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In our former patent, No. 643,666, dated February 20, 1900, we disclosed a signal system, particularly useful on trolley or other railways, in which when a car-leaves a. turnout it closes an electrical circuit and sets a block-signal at the next turn'out. This closure of the circuit was accomplished by the trolley-wheel touching a terminal of the signal-circuit, thus allowing a current to pass from the feed-wire through the signal-circuit. By the construction shown in that patent the signal-circuit would continue closed so long as the trolley-wheel remained in contact with the terminal of the signal-circuit, and if a car should stop in this position the apparatus might be burned out. The contact also was not reliable in all cases. In the embodiment of our invention shown here we have provided a switch apparatus which maybe automatically actuated by the car, but which does not in the embodiment shown depend on the trolley-wheel for the current-supply. It makes no diii'erence at what point the car stops, for

the circuit will remain open until the car reaches a certain point, when it actuates the mechanism controlling the switch, and this mechanism then automatically closes the switch and reopens it after a suitable interval entirely independently of the movement of the car.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention shown in the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, parts being in section, of our switch in place above a trolley-wire. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same without the hood, and Fig. 3 shows a diagram of connections.

In the above preferred embodiment, 1 is a trolley-wire, preferably at a turnout, and 2 a trolley wheel carried on an arm 3 on a tro'lley-car 3.

4: 4.- are insulating-supports which carry the base 5, to which the switch mechanism is attached.

6 is a hood to cover and protect the parts from the weather.

7 7 are the terminals, preferably mercurycups, of a circuit 8, Fig. 3, which in this embodiment controls a signal 9 at the next turnout or at any other desired point. We do not, however, limit ourselves to a visual signal, as a bell might be rung or a light displayed or other signals made. We have provided a switch which is thrown and returned automatically and independently of the movement of the vehicle. In the present embodiment this switch closes and then opens the circuit 8; but we do not limit ourselves to such construction.

10 is the switch, which includes in this embodiment alever 11, carryinga contact-bridge 12, adapted to dip into the mercury-cups and close the circuit. This lever 11 is attached to an insulating-piece 13, pivoted at 13 to the frame. A projection in the form of a lever 14 is attached to 13. In order to automatically throw and return the switch independently of the movement of the vehicle, we have provided a movable device adapted to rest in one position and automatic means to impart an impulse to said movable device to move it to a distance and throw the switch and means to automatically return the movable device to its former position, thus throwing back the switch. In this embodiment the movable device is a rolling object-for instance, a ball 15, which normally rests at the bottom of an inclined track or way formed by rods 16 16, sloping upward. The lever 14 projects into the path of movement of the ball, as shown by dotted lines, so that the ball strikes the same to throw the switch into the posit-ion shown in full lines. In this embodiment the switch is held open by the ball when it is at rest. When an impulse is given to the ball, it will roll up the incline by its momentum, thus releasing lever let and allowing lever 11 to drop by gravity or otherwise and close the circuit. The ball will not remain at the top, but will roll down the incline, and the rods 16 will guide it to its position of rest, thus throwing the switch 10 back to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This travel of the ball up and down the incline is independent of the motion of the vehicle after the first impulse hasbeen given to the ball,'and therefore it serves to open and close the switch independently of the subsequent movement of the vehicle. In order to impart this impulse to the ball or other movable object, we have provided means operated by the movement of the vehicle when it reaches a certain point. In the embodiment. show-n this consists of a head 18, pivoted at 20, and a lever 19,connected thereto. Aspring-stop 19 keeps the head 18 normally just out of contact with the ball. 17 is abufter-carriedhyhead 18; 19 is a projection in the form of a leveri-nthe path of movement of the trolley-wheel 2. This lever 19 is also pivoted at 20and'hasa part rounded at 21 and square at 22 to en-' gage a shoulder on 18, so that when the ver hicle is moving in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 the trolley-wheel will move the ie-.

ver 19 and head 18 into the positionshown in. dotted lines in Fig. 1; but when the trolleywheel-moves in the opposite direction it will,

push aside lever 19 without moving head 18. 23 is a spring .tores-ist the drawing back of head 18. When the trolley-wheelmovesfon ward from its position in Fig.1, it will re.--

lease lever 19 and allow head 18 to spring forward. Asit strikes stop 19 the inertia of head 18 will bend the stop slightly forward andhead 18 will strike the ball a quickblow and impel it up the incline,allowing theswitch to close. The ball will then run backsand reopen the switch. The switchis thus opened and closed automatioallyand entirely independently of the movement of thevehicle.

We have also provided means to varyat will the interval between the throwing and returning of the switch. In this embodiment. the rods 16 are attached toheads 25 2.6. Head 25 is pivoted at 27 to standard 28.. Threaded leg 29 and nut 30 constitute a means'for adjusting the incline of the track, and-therefore for varying the interval betweemthe start of the ball and itscoming again to rest, andiconsequently the interval between the opening andclosing of the switch.

Weare aware that our invention may be. used by itself and not in connection with a vehicle, if desired,.and'w.e therefore donot desire to limit ourselves to its useinconnection with a vehicle.

We-are aware that many changesimay be made-in the embodiment herein shown and. described without departing from the spirit.

of our invention, andwe thereforerdonotdesire to limit ourselves to the particular embodiment herein disclosed.

We claim 1. In'an electric apparatus incombination, a switch-arm. normally separated from its cooperating terminals, a movable device adapted to rest in one position, automatic means to strike said movable device a quick blow and'move the same to a distance, thereby releasingsaid switch-arm and causing the same. to complete the circuit, and means to cause said movable device to automatically return to its former position and reopen said'circuit.

2. In an electrical apparatus in combination, a switch, means to automatically throw the same when released, a movable device adapted to rest inone position, automatic means to strike said movable device a quick blow and move the same to a distance thereby 8o releasingsaidswitch and causing the same to be thrown, and means to cause said movable device to automatically return to its 'former position and'throw back saidswitch.

3. In an electrical apparatus incomb'in'a- -.tion, a switch adapted to be automatically thrown when released, .a rolling dev ice adapted to rest in one positionand'hold said switch 'frombeing thrown, an inclined track for said devicesloping upward from said position of rest, automatic means to strike saidrolling device a quick blow and impel the same to a distance up said inclined track thereby releasing-said switch and causing the same to .be thrown,.saidinclined track-being adapted 'to cause said device to automatically roll down to its-former position and throw back said switch.

4. In an electrical apparatus in comb'ina tion,.a normally open electric-circuit, a signal controlledthereby, a switch adapted to auto-' maticallyclose said circuit when released, an

(inclined track, a rolling device adapted to rest-at the bottom of said track, means projectin'g from said switch into the path 0 movement of said rolling device at its point of rest whereby said device-normally holds said switch open, a'spring actuated head and a leverconnected'therewith, said head being adapted to strike said rollingdevice and imno P6113110 same =toa distance up said track thereby releasing said' switch and closing said-.cir cuit, said track being adapted to-cause said device to automatically return after an in- :terval to its former position-and reopen said 11 5 :switch.

5. In an electrical device in combination,

an-inclined track, a rollingdevice-adapted to 1 travel up the same by the momentum imparted to it and downward by gravity and come :20 I

to rest at-a'point on said track, as-witchhav- .ingapart-projecting i-ntothe path of move- "mentof said device whereby said switch is, held from being thrown, means to impart an impulse to said device to cause the same to 12 5 travel up said track and release said project ing-part and cause said switch to be thrown,

said device being adapted to then'roll downsaid "track-and strike said projecting partand throw saids-witch back to itsformer position.

6. In an electrical'device in combination,

an inclined track, a ball adapted to travel up ;the same by-a momentum impartedto it, and

down-bygrav-ity, and'come to rest at a point on said track, an automatically-thrown switch having a part projecting into the path of movement of said ball at said point of rest whereby said rolling device holds said switch from being thrown, a spring-pressed lever adapted to be drawn back against the force of said spring and released, a part moved by said lever, said part being adapted to strike and impart an impulse to said ball to cause the same to travel up said track and release said switch, said ball being adapted to then roll down said track and move said switch back to its former position. 

